This is one in a sequence of stories related to a WHO consultation with Member States to highlight the complex needs of people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in emergency situations when they are forced to leave their homes and the care they depend on.
Abamlridha Olaiel, a 54-year-old man from Iraq, arrived in Greece in 2018. He was already receiving daily insulin treatment for type 2 diabetes and following a specially catered meal plan. One year after arriving at the refugee and migrant centre in Skaramanga, Athens, he was diagnosed with blood pressure problems through coronary angiography testing. He was then moved to the Schisto refugee and migrant camp, also in Athens.
His wife and four children, who fled with him, had their asylum status granted and have been residing in France for the past year and a half. Separated from his family and hoping to be able to join them one day, AbamIridha continues petitioning for asylum status whilst managing his health conditions to the best of his ability.
Despite being rejected numerous times, he was fortunate to be granted a temporary national social security number. He now receives daily treatment which includes insulin, blood pressure and cholesterol medication, as well as psychological support in the form of therapy sessions and medication. Upon request, he receives glucose and blood pressure testing to manage his health, as getting personalised medical equipment to measure his glucose levels remains a challenge.
“You get in tune with your body and become your own doctor,” he says. “I know what my limits are, and I don’t put pressure on myself, so that I am well.”
He adds that health-care workers inside the camp make him feel safe as they are attentive to his needs and ready to coordinate with external facilities should it become necessary. He stresses the importance of continuous health-care provision, particularly for people like him who suffer from a number of NCDs and need psychological support. He thinks it is important to feel understood and heard in order to receive as much support as possible.